17 alpha-(1&#39;,3&#39;-alkadiynyl)-17 beta-hydroxy (17 beta-alkoxy)-steroids

ABSTRACT

17A - (1&#39;&#39;,3&#39;&#39; - ALKADIYNYL)-3B, 17B-DIHYDROXY-4-ANDROSTENES AND 17A-(1&#39;&#39;3&#39;&#39;-ALKADIYNYL)-3B,17B-DIHYDROXY-4-OESTRENES TOGETHER WITH 3,B-ESTERS AND 17B-ALKYLETHERS THEREOF ARE PROVIDED. THESE COMPOUNDS ARE USEFUL IN THE TREATMENT OF CONDITIONS AND DEFECTS OF THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEMS AND FOR THE LIMITATIONS OR ENHANCEMENT OF FETILITY.

United States Patent 01 ice 3,592,828 17a-(1,3'-ALKADIYNYL)-17,8-HYDROXY (17fi-ALK0XY)-STEROIDS Colin Michael Burgess, Peter Feather, and Vladimir Petrow, London', England, assignors to The British Drug Houses Limited No Drawing. Filed Feb. 27, 1968, Ser. No. 708,526 Claims priority, application fir/eat Britain, Mar. 16, 1967,

7 IntQCl. c07c 169/20 US. Cl. 260397.5 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE 17a (l,3' alkadiynyl)-3,8,17B-dihydroxy-4-androstenes and 17a-,(1',3'-alkadiynyl)-3B,17 8-dihydroxy-4-oestrenes together with 3,8-esters and l7fi-alkylethers thereof are provided. These compounds are useful in the treatment of conditions and defects of the reproductive systems and for the limitation or enhancement of fertility.

' I oEo-ozo-R T4 i I'u (I) where R is an alkyl group containing not more than 5 carbon atoms, R is H or an acyl, cyclic acyl or aroyl group containing not more than 12 carbon atoms, R is H, Me or Et, R is Me or Et, R is H or Me and R is H or Me.

The new compounds of the present invention are of value in the art on account of their hormonal and antihormonal properties including oestrogenic, progestational, claudogenic, ovulation-inhibiting and gonadotrophin-inhibiting properties. Thus, the compounds are of value in preparations for the treatment of a wide range of conditions and defects of the reproductive system and for the limitation or enhancement of fertility. The new steroids may be administered in standard pharmaceutical and veterinary forms, such for example as tablets, injections, vaginal sponges and tampons.

The present invention provides the following specific substituted 17w l,3 '-alkadiynyl) l7p-hydroxy 17p-alkoxy)-steroids: 7

l7a-( l',3-hexadiynyl)-4-oestrene-3B,17 3-diol, which compound has shown activity when administered orally in the rat claudogen test 17w l ',3 '-hexadiynyl -4-androstene-3,B, 17,8-diol 17a-( l,3 -hexadiynyl)-6u-methyl-4-androstene-3B,17,8-

diol i 3,592,828 Patented July 13, 1971 17oc- 1 ',3'-hexadiynyl) -3 [i- 3 "-phenyl-propionoxy)-4- oestren- 175-01 17a- 1 3 '-hexadiynyl) -3 s-hexanoyloxy-4-oestren- 1713-01 3 B- l '-'a damantyl -acet0xy] 1 7a( 1 ",3 "-hexadiynyl)-4- oestren- 175-01 17:1- l,3 -hexadiynyl) -3/8-propionoxy-4-oestren-173-01 cl,3 -hexadiynyl) -3,8-hydroxy--methoxy-4- oestrene. 7

According to the present invention there is also provided a process for the preparation of l7a-( l',3'-alkadiyny1)-3B,17fl-dihydroxy-4-androstenes and 17a-(l',3'-alkadiynyl)-3B,17/i-dihydroxy-4-oestrenes and Sp-esters and l7/3-alkyl ethers thereof having, apart from optional additional unsaturated linkages and groups the structural formula (I) above, where R, R, R" and R" have the same meaning as above which process comprises reducing the corresponding 3-keto steroid and, if desired, acylating the resulting 3 8hydr0xy-A -steroid.

New steroids provided by the present invention may, in addition to the aforementioned l7u-alkadiynyl, 17fi-hydroxy(17 8-alkoxy) and 3/3-hydroxy (or derived ester) groups and the unsaturated linkage at C optionally contain unsaturated linkages at C C C C C C G C or C methyl groups at C C or C hydroxy groups at C C C C or C or combinations of two or more such unsaturated linkages and/or groups. C may be linked to a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.

Steroidal starting-materials suitable for the preparation of the compounds of the present invention are the 17m- (1,3 alkadiynyl)-17;5-hydroxy(17fi-alkoxy)-derivatives of 4 androsten-3-ones and 4-oestren-3-ones, described in our co-pending applications Nos. 559,737 filed June 23, 1966, now Pat. No. 3,463,796, and 576,866 filed Sept. 2, 1966, now Pat. No. 3,442,918. These steroidal 4-en-3-ones are converted into the corresponding steroidal 3 B-alcohols of the present invention by reduction. Suitable reducing agents which may be employed are, for example, lithium aluminium hydride, sodium borohydride or lithium-tritbutoxyaluminohydride. The preferred reducing agent is lithium-tri-t-butoxyaluminohydride (conveniently made in situ from lithium aluminium hydride in anhydrous t-butanol and anhydrous tetrahydrofuran as solvent) which alfords the most favourable yield of the steroidal 3,8- alcohol.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, 3,3-hydroxy-steroids may be converted into 3fi-acyloxy-, 3fi-cyclic-acyloxyand 3/8-aroyloxy-steroids by reaction under suitable conditions with esterifying agents such as acid anhydrides and acid chlorides.

Following is a description by way of example of methods of carrying the invention into eiiect.

EXAMPLE 1 l7a-( l,3 '-hexadiynyl)-4-oestrene-35,17B-diol 0 ol-3-one (2.0 g.) was added and the mixture was stirred at 0 C. for 2 hours and for 2 /2 hours at room temperature. Dilute sulphuric acid (1.2 ml.; 10%) was added EXAMPLE 2 3B-acetoxy-17a-(l',3-hexadiynyl)-4-oestren-17fi-ol IOH "ego-02042211. ()3 l AcO-Q A solution of 17a-(1,3'-hexadiynyl)-4-oestrene-3[3,l7,8- diol (0.50 g.) in a mixture of pyridine (2.0 ml.) and acetic anhydride (2.0 ml.) was allowed to stand at room temperature for 3 hours and poured into water. The precipitate was collected and purified by crystallisation from petroleum ether (B.P. 80-100 C.) and from aqueous methanol, affording 3B-acetoxy-17a-(1',3'-hexadiynyl)-4- oestren-17i3-ol, M.P. 123 C., [u] -102.5 (c., 0.73 in EtOH).

EXAMPLE 3 17a-(1',3-hexadiynyl)-4-androstene-3ti,17,8-diol Anhydrous t-butanol (18.0 ml.) was added dropwise to a stirred suspension of lithium aluminium hydride (2.41 g.) in anhydrous tetrahydrofuran (60 ml.). The mixture was cooled to C. 17a-(1,3'-hexadiynyl)-4-androsten-17fi-ol-3-one (5.36 g.) in anhydrous tetrahydrofuran (60 ml.) was added and the mixture was stirred at 0 C. for 2 hours and at room temperature for 2% hours. Dilute sulphuric acid (3.25 ml.; was added dropwise and the mixture was filtered. The filtrate was poured into brine and the resulting precipitate was collected and purified by crystallisation from acetone/ hexane, thin-layer chromatography on silica-gel eluting with toluene/ethyl acetate, and by crystallisation from ether/ hexane, affording 17a-(1,3-hexadiynyl)-4-androstene- 3 3-17fi-diol, M.P. 145 C., [a] 67 (c., 0.44 in EtOH).

EXAMPLE 4 17a-( l',3'-heptadiynyl) -4-oestrene-3;3, l 7,8-diol on i C--CEC-CaH7 @Q I Anhydrous t-butanol (6.8 ml.) was added dropwise to a stirred suspension of lithium aluminium hydride (0.90

g.) in anhydrous tetrahydro furan (60 ml). The mixture was cooled to 0 C. (l7ot-(1',3-heptadiynyl)-4-oestren- 17fl-ol-3-one (2.0 g.) in anhydrous tetrahydrofuran (22.5 ml.) was added and the mixture was stirred at 0 C. for 2 hours and at room temperature for 2 /2 hours. Dilute sulphuric acid (1.25 ml.; 10%) was added dropwise and the mixture was filtered. The filtrate was poured into brine and the steroidal product was recovered by extraction with ether and purified by crystallisation from ether/ petroleum ether, affording 17a-(1',3-heptadiynyl)-4- oestrene-3fi,l7fl-diol, M.P. 129 C., [u] -68 (c., 0.9 in dioxan containing 0.4% of pyridine).

EXAMPLE 5 l7a-( 1',3 '-pentadiynyl)-4-oestrene 3 5, 1 7,H-diol C l HO- I Anhydrous t-butanol (7.12 g.) was added dropwise to a stirred suspension of lithium aluminium hydride (1.22 g.) in anhydrous tetrahydrofuran ml.). The mixture was cooled to 0 C. 17a-(1',3-pentadiynyl)-4- oestren-17B-ol-3-0ne (2.6 g.) in anhydrous tetrahydrofuran (30 ml.) was added and the mixture was stirred for 2 hours at 0 C. and for 2 /2 hours at room temperature. Dilute sulphuric acid (1.6 ml.; 10%) was added dropwise and the mixture was filtered. The filtrate was poured into brine and the steroidal product was recovered by extraction with ether and purified by crystallisation from acetone/hexane, affording 17a-(1',3'-pentadiynyl)- 4-oestrene-3B,17fl-diol. M.P. 161 C., [0 62 (c.,

0.43 in dioxan containing 0.4% of pyridine).

EXAMPLE 6 17a-(1',3 -hexadiynyl -6a-methyl-4-androstene- 35,175-di0l Anhydrous t-butanol (9.70 g.) was added dropwise to a stirred suspension of lithium aluminium hydride (1.67 g.) in anhydrous tetrahydrofuran ml.). The mixture was cooled to 0 C. 17a-(1',3'-hexadiynyl)-6a-methy1-4- androsten-17/3-ol-3-one (4.0 g.) was added and the mixture was stirred at 0 C. for 1 /2 hours and at room temperature for 1% hours. Dilute sulphuric acid (2.2 g.; 10%) was added dropwise and the mixture was filtered. The filtrate was poured into brine and the steroidal product was collected and purified by crystallisation from acetone, affording 17a-(1',3'-hexadiynyl)-6a-methyl-4-androstene-3;9,l7fi-diol, M.P. 168 C., 33 (c., 0.2 in dioxan containing 0.4% of pyridine).

'5 EXAMPLE 7 17a-1,3 '-hexadiynyl) -3 [3- (3 "-phenyhpropionoxy) 4-oestren-17fi-ol p 3612, 2250, 1730, 1451 cmr 1029, 698 cm.-

max.

The compound gave a single spot when examined by thinlayer chromatography.

EXAMPLE 8 1712- 1',3-hexadiynyl) -3fl-hexanoyloxy-4-oestren-17,6-01

H p Q i CH3.(OH:)4.C0.0 i

C014 max.

3610, 2250, 1729, 1451 em.'" ,vg 1169,1030cm."

The compound gave a single spot when examined by thinlayer chromatography.

EXAMPLE 9 3 B-[ l'-adamantyl) -acetxy] -17 oz-( l",3-hexadiynyl) 4-oestren- 17 3-01 A mixture of 17a-(1,3'-hexadiynyl)-4-oestrene-3}9,17fldiol (0.25 g.), pyridine ml.) and (1-adamantyl)-acetic anhydride (0.50 g.) was heated on the steam-bath for 20 hours. The mixture was allowed to cool and poured onto ice. The steroidal product was isolated by extraction with ether and purified by thin-layer chromatography,

giving amorphous 3/3-[(1'-adamantyl)-acetoxy]-(1 ,3- hexadiynyl)-4-oestren-l7B-ol, [12],; 71 (0., 0.26 in EtOH),

.33 3610, 2250, 1725 cmr D 1 max.

The compound gave a single spot when examined by thin layer chromatography.

EXAMPLE 10 17a-( l,3'-hexadiynyl)-3fi-propionoxy-4-oestren-175-01 A solution of 17a-(l,3'-hexadiynyl)-4-oestrene-3;8,175 diol (0.50 g.) in a mixture of pyridine (2.0 ml.) and propionic anhydride (2.4 ml.) was allowed to stand overnight at room temperature, and poured into water. The precipitate was collected and purified by crystallisation from aqueous methanol, affording 17a-(1',3'-hexadiynyl)- 3/3 propionoxy 4 oestren 17B ol, M.P. 73 C., [M 107 (0., 0.36 in dioxan containing 0.2% of pyridine).

EXAMPLE 1 1 17oc-(1',3 -hexadiyny1)-3/3-hydroxy-l7 3-methoxy-4- oestrene 0 l HO i A solution of 17a-(1,3'-hexadiynyl)-3-methoxy-2,5 (l0)-oestradien-l7B-ol (Example 34 of United States Pat. No. 3,442,918) (6.6 gm.) in anhydrous tetrahydrofuran (180 ml.) was added dropwise during fifteen minutes, to stirred sodamide (from 0.62 gm. of sodium and a trace of ferric nitrate) in liquid ammonia (200 ml.) at about --60 C. The mixture was stirred for 10 minutes, methyl iodide (4.0 g.) in tetrahydrofuran (10 ml.) was added, and the mixture was stirred at about 60 C. for two hours and poured onto ice. The steroidal product was isolated by extraction with ether and treated in methanol (250 ml.) with 3 N aqueous hydrochloric acid ml.) for fifteen minutes at 60 C. The methanolic solution was cooled, and poured into ice-water. The steroidal product, isolated by extraction with ether, was purified by chromatography on alumina, eluting with toluene, giving (l,3 -hexadiynyl) -17B-methoxy-4-oestren-3-one,

OMe

7 amorphous 17a (1,3' hexadiynyl)-3B-hydroxy-17{3-methoxy-4-oestrene, [a] -94 (0., 1.00 in dioxan),

3615, 2245, 1660 cm. CS2 1372, 1261, 1093,

--CECGEC-R R4 l R10 i wherein R is alkyl of not more than 5 carbon atoms, R is hydrogen or an acyl, cyclic acyl or aroyl group containing not more than 12 carbon atoms, R is hydrogen, 0 methyl or ethyl, R is hydrogen or methyl, and R is hydrogen or methyl.

4. 17a-(1,3-heptadiynyl)-4-oestrene-3;3,17,8-dio1.

5. l7a-(1,3'-hexadiynyl)-4-androstene-3,B,17B-diol.

6. 3;? acetoxy 17a (1,3' hexadiynyl) 4 oestren- 175-01.

7. 17a (1',3'-hexadiynyl)-6a-methyl-4-androstene-3[3, 17B-diol.

8. 17a (1,3-hexadiynyl)-3fi-(3-phenylpropionoxy)- 4-oestren-l7/3-ol.

9. 17oz (1',3' -hexadiynyl)-3,H-hexanoyloxy-4-oestren- 175-01. 1

10. 3/3 [(1 adamantyl) acetoxy]-17a-(1,3"-hexadiynyl)-4-oestren-17/i-ol.

11. 17a (1',3' -hexadiynyl)-3B-propionoxy-4-oestren- 173-01.

12. 17a (1',3'-hexadiynyl)-3,8-hydroxy-17fi-methoxy- 4-oestrene.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l/1965 Feather et a1. 260-397.4 6/1967 Knox et al. 260397.4

HENRY A. FRENCH, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 260397.4, 999 

